The city's leading tycoons and important public figures are now attending the annual "two meetings" in Beijing. To the delegates, the annual meetings of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are a badge of honor as well as a sign of gratitude for their continuous contribution to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC, announced in his work report at the opening of the CPPCC sessions last Thursday that delegates from Hong Kong and Macao "should extensively and deeply participate in work related to young people". This responsibility was not mentioned in Yu's work report last year, signifying a newfound concern about the shortcomings of both cities in regard to their young people. This is perfectly understandable, given the recent social unrest in Hong Kong triggered by young people.

While Yu's work report contained only about 300 words related to Hong Kong, compared with nearly 800 words last year, Yu clearly tried to stress the importance of work relating to young people.

Reviewing the CPPCC's efforts over the past year, Yu said Hong Kong and Macao delegates had organized trips to the mainland for local youth groups. This is to help young people gain more experience and enhance their national consciousness by observing developments on the mainland.

We might add that we have achieved a lot more and have even successfully allowed our "localists" to observe the mainland's development in person for a prolonged period. For example, Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, the Civic Party's candidate who has just won the by-election in New Territories East and had been providing legal assistance to the Mong Kok rioters, got his Master Degree in Law at Peking University. Cheng Chung-tai, an instructor in the Polytechnic University and a core member of the "localist" group Civic Passion, also did his PhD at Peking University.

If more "localists" can observe developments on the mainland in person, Hong Kong might again be stable and prosperous.

When the press asked Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying for a response over Yu's remarks, he said, "Every country pays special attention to the young people because they are the country's future. Hong Kong has always been paying special attention to its young people." Then he alluded to his efforts in taking students on official tours overseas.

It is natural for a country to care about its young people, and therefore it is also natural for Yu to care about them in Hong Kong - which, of course, is part of China. At the same time, the CE has already done a lot - and perhaps enough - for young people. It was unfortunate that a few hundred young Hong Kong people decided to riot in Mong Kok during the Chinese New Year. But there are many more young people than this in Hong Kong. Most of them did not join the riot - and we should be focusing on these good young people. If we try hard enough, we will find some of the good young people indeed went on tours abroad with the CE.

While Leung has already done a lot for our young people, what Yu Zhengsheng said was even more specific. In the coming year, the CPPCC is going to "organize leaders of youth organizations" for "experience-based learning". These youth organizations and their leaders will be "led by Hong Kong and Macao's CPPCC delegates".

We should applaud the CPPCC's new direction and be confident these enhanced exchanges can act as a timely counter to the "localist" tendencies now gradually taking hold in the city.

(HK Edition 03/08/2016 page10)